300 Horses, 3 Companies, a Distinguished Global Partnership: Interagro Lusitanos, GTC Brazil, and Lazcar International
Itapira, SP, Brazil (April 26, 2018) – The Interagro Lusitano sport horse has long been an international athlete: from the mountains of Canada to the wilds of Australia and everywhere in between, this versatile and beautiful horse continues to grow in popularity with the sport horse disciplines top competitors as well as passionate adult amateurs. Due in part to their partnership with the world class shipping experts at GTC Brazil and Lazcar International, over 300 Interagro horses have journeyed far beyond the 1,300 acre stud and training center in Itapira, Brazil to decorated and accomplished careers in dressage, jumping, driving, paradressage, and working equitation.
Via the services provided by GTC and Lazcar, the reliable, safe, and efficient transport of equines out of Brazil has been a fundamental pillar of Interagro’s success; spanning the better part of three decades, Interagro’s partnership with the shipping magnates has routinely delivered horses safely to their destinations, and 2018 has been no exception. Two of Interagro’s elite dressage horses, Zepelim Interagro and Fellini Interagro, ventured across the continents to compete on the 2018 Adequan Global Dressage Festival circuit. When it came to arranging for the international transport of two of their most valuable stallions, Interagro turned once again to GTC and Lazcar.
“Interagro has exported so many horses from Brazil, and it has always been their goal to be sure the horses have the best care no matter if it is the first horse or the 300th horse,” said Peter van Borst, Interagro’s US Sales Representative. “International travel can be a stressful time for both the horses and their owners. Ground shipping, air travel, quarantines, arrival, competition; then doing it all over again to get home. From horses sold abroad, to those standing at stud in other countries, to those going to compete, Interagro only trusts the best to take any of their meticulously bred equines on the next step in their journey.” Zepelim and Fellini returned to Interagro’s Sao Paulo based stud and training center on April 3, 2018 following a successful FEI campaign in Wellington.
The stringent shipping requirements followed by GTC Brazil and Lazcar and their level of service personalized to the horses takes international equine travel to the next level. The horses begin their journey with ground transportation to the airport provided by GTC and a 24 hour quarantine at Campinas Viracopos International Airport. Upon their arrival at Viracopos, Lazcar orchestrates the rest of the horses’ journey to their final destination. The export sanitary process includes advance testing for communicable diseases as well as quarantine procedures. All of the hundreds of horses shipped to the US by Interagro are cleared for piroplasmosis, and because all of Interagro’s horses are born in Brazil they are exempt from CEM testing. Upon arrival in Miami, or their initial arrival in the US, the horses spend a week in the American quarantine and are once again tested for piroplasmosis. Lazcar and GTC organize every step in the process to ensure a safe and successful arrival in the United States.
Lazcar International and GTC Brazil specialize in first class international horse transport around the globe; they have collaborated to ship horses, cattle, goats, and exotic animals to unique destinations worldwide, including over 300 Interagro Lusitanos. Lazcar‘s 35 plus years of operation have resulted in countless animals, from horses to emus, traveling in personalized efficiency and world class conditions. Their partnership with Interagro has spanned more than two decades, and has created one of the longest lasting and prolific shipping business relationships on the globe. GTC Brazil is a leading international freight forwarder and broker specializing in the import and export of horses from Brazil. Founded by professionals with backgrounds in international business, equine cardiology, and equine sports medicine, GTC Brazil offers state of the art jet stalls and an expert team of veterinarians to supervise and precisely coordinate every step of the shipping process. From the initial point of contact to the final hoofprint left in quarantine, their detail-oriented staff escort the horses as first class passengers, and are continually streamlining communication, safety initiatives, and shipping procedures to provide for the horses’ wellbeing and the owners’ peace of mind. GTC was founded in 2005 and has been partnered with Interagro for over 12 years. Working out of Campinas-Viracopos International Airport, GTC lifts off to Europe, the USA, and with some of the world’s elite airlines—Atlas Air, Lufthansa, Martin Air, LATAM Cargo, FedEx—and with some of the most advanced and safest aircraft: Boeing 747, 777, 767, 300F, and MD-11. All fees, customs arrangements, taxes, agriculture details, quarantine procedures, paperwork, bloodwork, health certificates, and scheduling are meticulously managed to compliance for their destination country, while keeping a focus on safety and timeliness for the benefit of the horses.
As Interagro celebrates more than 300 Lusitanos leaving the lush tropical fields of their stud and training center for careers and destinations abroad, their long ranging success is in large part due to their ability to export each horse with such exceptional care and safety. For more information on Lazcar International, visit their website at www.lazcar.com. For more information on GTC Brazil, follow them on Facebook at www.gtcbrasil.com.br.
With over 40 years of experience breeding, training, and exporting Lusitanos, Interagro’s mission is to preserve the exceptional bloodlines and qualities of the breed while showcasing their talent, beauty, and intelligence, especially in the FEI and sport horse disciplines. Established in 1975 by Dr. Paulo Gavião Gonzaga, Interagro’s initial vision was to preserve and restore the original foundational Lusitano bloodlines and lineages, many of which were in danger of extinction following the Portuguese Revolution of 1974. Through meticulous breeding, exceptional care, and world-class training, the Interagro Lusitanos of today continue that legacy as they compete across four continents.
For more information on Interagro Lusitanos, Interagro’s horses for sale, or the Lusitano bloodlines, visit Interagro’s website at www.lusitano-interagro.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram (@interagrolusitanos).
To organize a trip to Brazil or for any questions regarding sales or the logistics of importing horses to the US, do not hesitate to contact Interagro.
All photos courtesy of Interagro Lusitanos unless otherwise noted
Media contact:
©2018 Equinium Sports Marketing, LLC | Wellington, Florida USA
Holly Johnson | holly@equinium.com | +1 954 205 7992
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